Image Source: THE FEDERAL

The Centre has urged state governments to initiate measures including running more Shramik Special trains and making arrangements for food, health and accommodation for migrant workers walking on foot, to “mitigate the distress” faced by thousands of them who have embarked on a journey home after losing their livelihoods. The central government’s request comes at a time when several migrants bound for home, have been killed in road accidents. Thousands including pregnant women, children and the elderly are still walking, cycling and hitching rides to reach their home states, while battling hunger, heat and health issues. In a letter to chief secretaries of all states on Monday (May 18), Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, urged them to operate more special trains for migrants through pro-active coordination with the Ministry of Railways and make arrangement for resting places, food and health facilities while keeping hygiene in mind, along routes where migrants are already travelling on foot. Bhalla also asked states to enlist migrants with their addresses and contact numbers to help in future contact tracing, and involve NGOs to counsel them on quarantine facilities and discourage them from walking further. Urging states to increase the number of buses ferrying migrants, the home secretary also asked them to allow entry of buses carrying migrants at inter-state borders and facilitate their journey to their destinations. He said particular attention should be given to the requirements of women, children and the elderly among the migrants. District authorities may be directed to request the Ministry of Railways for running trains where required and ensure that no migrant worker has to resort to walking on roads or railway tracks to reach his destination, the letter read.